Rode VideoMic GO II Directional On-Camera & USB Shotgun Microphone

Rode VideoMic GO II: One Tiny Mic for Your Camera, Computer, and Phone

The Rode VideoMic GO II is an ultra-compact supercardioid on-camera shotgun microphone with both a 3.5mm analog output and a USB-C digital output, weighing just 1.16 oz (33 g). That dual output is the whole idea: the same microphone that mounts on a mirrorless camera and captures clean, directional sound also plugs straight into a computer or phone as a plug-and-play USB mic, with no battery to change and no switches to set. It is the one microphone a modern creator can carry everywhere and use for everything.

How the Line-Tube Shotgun Capsule Focuses on Your Subject

The GO II uses an annular line-tube capsule, the same acoustic technology as Rode's premium VideoMic NTG, to deliver a tightly focused supercardioid pickup. A shotgun capsule sits at the end of a slotted interference tube: sound arriving from the front travels straight down the tube to the diaphragm, while sound arriving from the sides enters the slots at slightly different points and partially cancels itself out before it reaches the capsule. The practical result is a microphone that concentrates on whatever the lens is pointed at and pushes back the room, the traffic, and the off-axis noise around it, so your subject sounds close and clear even in a busy space.

Two Outputs, One Microphone: Analog for Cameras, USB-C for Computers

What sets the GO II apart from an ordinary camera mic is that it speaks two languages. Through its 3.5mm TRS jack it feeds an analog signal to any camera or recorder, exactly as you would expect from an on-camera shotgun. Through its USB-C port it becomes a fully digital microphone, delivering 24-bit/48 kHz audio directly to a computer, tablet, or phone with no audio interface in between. In USB mode the 3.5mm jack even switches roles to become a zero-latency headphone monitoring output, so you can hear yourself as you record. One microphone quietly covers the camera bag and the desk.

No Battery, No Switches, and Hidden DSP When You Want It

The GO II is deliberately simple: it draws power from the camera's 3.5mm plug-in supply or over the USB-C bus, so there is no battery to charge or forget, and its body carries no physical dials to knock out of position. When you connect it to a computer or phone over USB, though, a second layer opens up in the free Rode Central software, where you can switch on a high-pass filter to cut rumble, add a high-frequency boost for extra crispness, or engage a pad for loud sources. You get grab-and-go simplicity on camera and studio-style control when you are at the desk.

On the Camera: Run-and-Gun, Vlogging, and Interviews

Mounted in its HELIX isolation shockmount on a mirrorless camera, DSLR, or gimbal, the GO II is a run-and-gun workhorse. The isolation mount floats the capsule so the bumps of handheld movement and the tug of the cable do not transmit into your audio, and the 33 g weight keeps a gimbal balanced and a small camera comfortable. For vlogging, walk-and-talk, and interview work, its tight supercardioid pattern keeps the focus on the presenter and rejects the surrounding noise that makes amateur footage sound amateur.

On the Desk: Podcasting, Streaming, and Video Calls

Unplug it from the camera, connect the USB-C cable to a computer, and the same microphone becomes a serious desktop tool. As a plug-and-play USB mic it upgrades podcasts, live streams, gaming chat, and video calls far beyond any built-in laptop microphone, with the directional pickup keeping keyboard clatter and room echo out of the mix. Paired with Rode Central and the Rode Connect app, it slots straight into a content-creation workflow without any additional hardware.

Who the VideoMic GO II Is For

This is for the creator who does a bit of everything and does not want a drawer full of single-purpose microphones. If you shoot video on a camera and also record at a computer, the GO II is the one lightweight, no-fuss mic that follows you between both worlds, giving broadcast-quality directional sound whether it is riding a camera or sitting on your desk.